How will ruling on gays affect Boy Scouts?

Published: Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 7:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 10:26 p.m.

Brandi Woodlee worries about the future of the Boy Scout troop her home school organization sponsors in Daytona Beach.

The reason for her concern, she says, is because the Boy Scouts of America is considering removing its long-standing policy against allowing openly gay members and leaders.

Under the proposal, organizations that sponsor and oversee units would be able to determine their own policy on sexual orientation. The BSA's governing board is expected to make a formal ruling on the policy Wednesday.

As the academy director of FAITH Homeschool Group in Daytona Beach, Woodlee's organization oversees Troop, Pack and Crew 714, which is led by Laura Burton. Woodlee said the proposed policy change concerns troop leaders and parents. Even if sponsors are able to select their own sexual orientation policy, they may end their involvement with the Boy Scouts, she said. However, Burton and Woodlee said it was still too soon to know how their troop would react if the policy is implemented.

"Our troop may say we choose not to accept those rules (if adopted) but there's still the national organization that's above us and we don't believe in their morals," Woodlee said.

Woodlee said her organization that supports Troop 714 is faith-based and supports "family values." "But we realize that not everyone's family values are our family values," she said.

Last year several corporate donors halted funding to the Boy Scouts of America in response to the organization's ban on gays. Protests over the policy were fueled after an 18-year-old California teen's Eagle Scout application was rejected because he is gay.

James Botelho, a scoutmaster from Troop 281 in Palm Coast, said that a hard-and-fast policy on sexual orientation can be problematic. First Baptist Church of Palm Coast sponsors Botelho's troop.

"It's a real fine line on how you have to address each individual situation," he said. "I would work with the gays and lesbians. I have no problem with that. But our chartering organization would have the final say on it and we have to abide by their rules."

Bill Gosselin , director of operations for the Central Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, equated his organization's position to the military's former "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which was repealed in 2011. Gosselin said in his 17 years of overseeing Central Florida's chapter, he was not aware of a scout leader being denied membership because of sexual orientation.

"The BSA does not proactively inquire about anyone's sexual orientation, and sexuality aside, as a private organization, scouting may deny membership to anyone whose behavior creates a distraction to its mission," the Boy Scouts of America issued in a statement last week. "The fact is most of our youth members are under the age of 12, and the majority of the parents we serve do not believe scouting is the right forum for same-sex attraction to be introduced, discussed or demonstrated in any way."

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the BSA's right to exclude gays in 2000 but as a result the organization lost sponsorships from public schools because the ruling clashed with their own anti-discrimination policies.

The types of organizations that can sponsor Boy Scout troops, packs and crews include civic organizations, churches and some private businesses. Sponsors help determine programs, provide meeting space and financial resources.

Gosselin said that if approved, the new policy would likely cause divisions in the Boy Scouts community.

"I think it would be ignorant on our part to think otherwise," he said. "But until the decision is made it's all going to be speculation until that time. I am telling troop leaders and parents to hold tight and we'll see what happens at the national level."

Ormond Beach resident Jeff Allen, an AIDS activist who is gay, said he was a Boy Scout but that was long before he knew his sexual orientation. He said that the proposed policy is a step in the right direction but believes that the majority of troops will continue with the current policy.

"This organization makes young men into leaders, some of which will ultimately join the military," he said. "If the military is now accepting gays, why can't the Boy Scouts?"

<p>Brandi Woodlee worries about the future of the Boy Scout troop her home school organization sponsors in Daytona Beach. </p><p>The reason for her concern, she says, is because the Boy Scouts of America is considering removing its long-standing policy against allowing openly gay members and leaders. </p><p>Under the proposal, organizations that sponsor and oversee units would be able to determine their own policy on sexual orientation. The BSA's governing board is expected to make a formal ruling on the policy Wednesday. </p><p>As the academy director of FAITH Homeschool Group in Daytona Beach, Woodlee's organization oversees Troop, Pack and Crew 714, which is led by Laura Burton. Woodlee said the proposed policy change concerns troop leaders and parents. Even if sponsors are able to select their own sexual orientation policy, they may end their involvement with the Boy Scouts, she said. However, Burton and Woodlee said it was still too soon to know how their troop would react if the policy is implemented. </p><p>"Our troop may say we choose not to accept those rules (if adopted) but there's still the national organization that's above us and we don't believe in their morals," Woodlee said. </p><p>Woodlee said her organization that supports Troop 714 is faith-based and supports "family values." "But we realize that not everyone's family values are our family values," she said. </p><p>Last year several corporate donors halted funding to the Boy Scouts of America in response to the organization's ban on gays. Protests over the policy were fueled after an 18-year-old California teen's Eagle Scout application was rejected because he is gay. </p><p>James Botelho, a scoutmaster from Troop 281 in Palm Coast, said that a hard-and-fast policy on sexual orientation can be problematic. First Baptist Church of Palm Coast sponsors Botelho's troop. </p><p>"It's a real fine line on how you have to address each individual situation," he said. "I would work with the gays and lesbians. I have no problem with that. But our chartering organization would have the final say on it and we have to abide by their rules." </p><p>Bill Gosselin , director of operations for the Central Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, equated his organization's position to the military's former "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which was repealed in 2011. Gosselin said in his 17 years of overseeing Central Florida's chapter, he was not aware of a scout leader being denied membership because of sexual orientation. </p><p>"The BSA does not proactively inquire about anyone's sexual orientation, and sexuality aside, as a private organization, scouting may deny membership to anyone whose behavior creates a distraction to its mission," the Boy Scouts of America issued in a statement last week. "The fact is most of our youth members are under the age of 12, and the majority of the parents we serve do not believe scouting is the right forum for same-sex attraction to be introduced, discussed or demonstrated in any way." </p><p>The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the BSA's right to exclude gays in 2000 but as a result the organization lost sponsorships from public schools because the ruling clashed with their own anti-discrimination policies. </p><p>The types of organizations that can sponsor Boy Scout troops, packs and crews include civic organizations, churches and some private businesses. Sponsors help determine programs, provide meeting space and financial resources. </p><p>Gosselin said that if approved, the new policy would likely cause divisions in the Boy Scouts community. </p><p>"I think it would be ignorant on our part to think otherwise," he said. "But until the decision is made it's all going to be speculation until that time. I am telling troop leaders and parents to hold tight and we'll see what happens at the national level." </p><p>Ormond Beach resident Jeff Allen, an AIDS activist who is gay, said he was a Boy Scout but that was long before he knew his sexual orientation. He said that the proposed policy is a step in the right direction but believes that the majority of troops will continue with the current policy. </p><p>"This organization makes young men into leaders, some of which will ultimately join the military," he said. "If the military is now accepting gays, why can't the Boy Scouts?"</p>